Sixfold surge in flu outbreaks at Hong Kong schools as 13 severe cases reported
Health officials renew flu vaccination calls after three severe flu cases on consecutive days
Hong Kong schools have reported a more than sixfold surge in influenza outbreaks since the start of the academic year compared with the winter flu season earlier this year, with 13 children hospitalised since September.
The government renewed its calls on Wednesday for children to receive flu jabs after another three severe paediatric cases were reported on consecutive days.
The Centre for Health Protection said the latest severe case involved an 11-year-old girl who had previously been in good health.
The girl, who was not vaccinated, developed symptoms on Sunday and was subsequently diagnosed with influenza A complicated by severe pneumonia.
Centre controller Dr Edwin Tsui Lok-kin said that compared with the winter flu season earlier this year, children were particularly affected this time, with more severe paediatric cases.
“Including the latest case, there have been 13 severe paediatric influenza cases since the start of the school year in September, including one fatal case,” he said, adding that the children ranged in age from two years to 17, and 10 of them had previously been in good health.
Since the start of the school year, 602 outbreaks had been reported, Tsui noted.